Coercion by the Orthodox minority in Israel
Cohen-Almagor, Raphael LU
(2024)
p.86-114
- Abstract
In Israel, the Orthodox minority enforces its conception of the good on Israeli-Jews, many of whom do not share their set of beliefs. This is the result of lack of separation between state and religion and the monopoly enjoyed by the Orthodoxy to decide personal matters. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has been struggling to reconcile the tension between its being a democracy and retaining the Jewish character of the state. These values are not easily reconcilable. As a result of the inbuilt tensions, basic civic and human rights are undermined. First, the chapter explains the composition of the Israeli-Jewish population and the main bones of contention. Section 5.3 explains why Israel adopted the Ottoman millet system to govern... (More)
In Israel, the Orthodox minority enforces its conception of the good on Israeli-Jews, many of whom do not share their set of beliefs. This is the result of lack of separation between state and religion and the monopoly enjoyed by the Orthodoxy to decide personal matters. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has been struggling to reconcile the tension between its being a democracy and retaining the Jewish character of the state. These values are not easily reconcilable. As a result of the inbuilt tensions, basic civic and human rights are undermined. First, the chapter explains the composition of the Israeli-Jewish population and the main bones of contention. Section 5.3 explains why Israel adopted the Ottoman millet system to govern its institutions. The millet system serves the interests of the religious minority well. Section 5.4 discusses discrimination against secular and non-Orthodox Jews. Section 5.5 relates to discrimination against women in a number of spheres. It is argued that Judaism and liberal democracy are irreconcilable. A pertinent distinction is made between the symbolic aspects of religion and the modus operandi of religion. As far as the latter are concerned, it is argued (Section 5.6) that separation between State and religion should be achieved; otherwise coercive State interventions in intimate private matters are unavoidable. Such interventions trigger frustration and resentment.
(Less)
- author
- Cohen-Almagor, Raphael
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-01-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- Multicultural Citizenship : Legacy and Critique - Legacy and Critique
- pages
- 29 pages
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85210459956
- ISBN
- 9781040225998
- 9781032564982
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003435853-5
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2ef8f742-625d-4672-834c-39ccdbc4a441
- date added to LUP
- 2025-01-15 13:16:01
- date last changed
- 2025-07-17 04:23:05
@inbook{2ef8f742-625d-4672-834c-39ccdbc4a441,
abstract = {{<p>In Israel, the Orthodox minority enforces its conception of the good on Israeli-Jews, many of whom do not share their set of beliefs. This is the result of lack of separation between state and religion and the monopoly enjoyed by the Orthodoxy to decide personal matters. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has been struggling to reconcile the tension between its being a democracy and retaining the Jewish character of the state. These values are not easily reconcilable. As a result of the inbuilt tensions, basic civic and human rights are undermined. First, the chapter explains the composition of the Israeli-Jewish population and the main bones of contention. Section 5.3 explains why Israel adopted the Ottoman millet system to govern its institutions. The millet system serves the interests of the religious minority well. Section 5.4 discusses discrimination against secular and non-Orthodox Jews. Section 5.5 relates to discrimination against women in a number of spheres. It is argued that Judaism and liberal democracy are irreconcilable. A pertinent distinction is made between the symbolic aspects of religion and the modus operandi of religion. As far as the latter are concerned, it is argued (Section 5.6) that separation between State and religion should be achieved; otherwise coercive State interventions in intimate private matters are unavoidable. Such interventions trigger frustration and resentment.</p>}},
author = {{Cohen-Almagor, Raphael}},
booktitle = {{Multicultural Citizenship : Legacy and Critique}},
isbn = {{9781040225998}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{86--114}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
title = {{Coercion by the Orthodox minority in Israel}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003435853-5}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781003435853-5}},
year = {{2024}},
}